Counselor Allegedly 'Groomed' El Salvadoran Teen While He Was a Student in Boston, Complaint Says

“The relationship between Defendants Dunne and James took place at BINCA over a long period of time and was readily observable,” the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from Dunne, Boston Public Schools, Keysteps Inc. and its executive director for alleged negligence, negligent supervision and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

“James has suffered and continues to suffer severe and permanent mental distress and emotional harm, physical symptoms, and other consequential damages,” the lawsuit alleges.

According to the complaint, Dunne became a licensed mental health counselor in 2017 and was ethically prohibited from having an intimate relationship with a client. The complaint alleges that school officials knew their relationship was inappropriate but failed to file required child abuse reports with police or the state.

Neither Dunne nor Keysteps executive director Bette Bohlke-O'Gara could immediately be reached for comment.

In a statement, Boston Public Schools spokesman Max Baker called the allegations “deeply disturbing.”

“These allegations dating back to 2012 involving one of our former contractors are deeply troubling and the alleged acts are not tolerated within BPS,” Baker wrote. “We have a clear policy – ​​which applies to contractors – that explicitly prohibits any type of inappropriate relationship between students and staff, regardless of the nature. Allegations of this magnitude must and will be taken seriously. Given that this matter is the subject of active litigation, BPS cannot comment further.”

According to the lawsuit, which was previously reported by MassLive, the teen was assigned to Dunne for therapy during his freshman year.

When he was in second grade, he and Dunne allegedly left school together in Dunne's car and once went to a movie, which the teen “understood to be a date,” according to the complaint. They allegedly began an intimate relationship that night.

In 2016, when the teen applied for special immigrant minor status in Suffolk Probate and Family Court, Dunne filed an affidavit on his behalf, according to the lawsuit, which included a copy of the affidavit.

“I am very invested in this young man’s life and future and plan to continue to support him as he strives to achieve his future goals,” she wrote. “He is exactly the type of young worker who deserves to be protected and supported.”

In his statement, the teenager said that as a student at BINCA he found the emotional support he needed.

“One of my biggest supporters is my advisor Jenny Dunne,” he wrote. “About two years ago, I spoke to Ms. Dunne because I was feeling lonely and going through a difficult time with my situation at home and what I had experienced in El Salvador. I have been seeing Ms. Dunne for almost two years now and she is truly someone I can talk to. She is very helpful and has encouraged me to improve my situation so that one day I can become an independent person.”

Privately, Dunne and the teen discussed the possibility of leaving Massachusetts and starting a life together elsewhere, the lawsuit says.

Dunne and the teenager last met in July 2021, when she attended a school football game, the lawsuit says. After allegedly spending the night together, Dunne texted her the next morning “saying he was different and the relationship was over,” the lawsuit says.

“All this time, James was in love with Dunne and he believed she felt the same emotions toward him,” the lawsuit claims.

Last year, the teen returned to school and met with a teacher who knew him and Dunne, the lawsuit says. The teacher asked him to keep quiet about their relationship, the lawsuit says.

You can contact John R. Ellement at [email protected]. Follow him @JREbosglobe.